CCSVI - why has this never been investigated

Upper Neck Misalignments, CCSVI and Multiple Sclerosis Part 1 of 2

Posted on May 29, 2013

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), is a reported abnormality in blood drainage from the brain and spinal cord, this may contribute to nervous system damage in MS.  CCSVI has been getting a lot of press in recent years because Dr. Paolo Zamboni from the University of Ferrara in Italy published his initial findings in June 2009 from a study of approximately 65 patients.  Based on the results of preliminary research which has been published in respected peer journals, Dr. Zamboni and others have recommended larger scale studies to determine if CCSVI may be treated through an endovascular surgical procedure, which involves inserting a tiny balloon or stent into blocked veins in order to improve the flow of blood out of the brain and spinal cord.  This procedure produced complete remissions in MS in 90% of the participants of the study!
But the question was why were the veins blocked to begin with?
New research from Europe is adding to the growing body of evidence that a misalignment in the upper neck may be the underlying cause of the blockage.  The new research article titled the Incidence and distribution of extravascular compression of extracranial venous pathway in patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis shows that the majority of the patients in the study had a compressive force being applied to the venous structures that drain the brain.  Most commonly the upper neck bone the Atlas (shown in the picture) was misaligned causing the compression.
So how does the Atlas get misaligned?
Dr. Charles Poser of Harvard Medical School who has been looking into this connection for more than 20 years has stated that…

A cervical cord hyperextension – hyperflexion injury (whiplash) is likely to unmask or worsen the natural course of MS.

And in Dr. Poser’s paper entitled Trauma to the Central Nervous System May Result in Formation or Enlargement of Multiple Sclerosis Plaques,  he says…
“In some patients with MS certain types of trauma may act as a trigger at sometime for the appearance of new or recurrent symptoms. Only trauma affecting the head, neck or upper back, that is, to the brain and/or spine cord can be considered significant.” (Published in the Archives of Neurology, July 2000).
So if it is well-known in the literature that “cervical cord hyperextension – hyperflexion injury is likely to unmask or worsen the natural course of MS..”.  Why aren’t patients with MS and CCSVI finding out if the MS is traumatically induced and could be corrected with realignment of the upper cervical spine?  As Dr. Poser said “Only trauma affecting the head, neck or upper back, that is, to the brain and/or spinal cord can be considered significant.”
Next time, we will take a closer look at a natural, noninvasive approach to correct upper neck misalignments and relieve pressure off the veins that drain the brain.
To have your upper neck evaluated for traumatically induced misalignment just call Sherwood Spinal Care at  425-227-0111 

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Dr. Kurt Sherwood, D.C. is Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. He is in private practice in the state of Washington in the city of Renton. He specializes in correcting problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at http://www.sherwoodspinalcare.com